Signal



Feb. 2, 1937. (:REMER I 2,069,222

SIGNAL Filed Marqh 19, 1934 82 as as fnvenior Patented Feb. 2, 1937UNITED, STATES PATENT OFF-ICE 'lqlaims.

My invention relates to motor vehicle acces series and more specificallyto arrangements for detecting abnormal conditions requiring attention'bythe operator, before such conditions be- 5 come sufllciently serious tocause damage or inconvenience. It includes among its objects andadvantages the elimination of unnecessary. irrelevant-or confusingsignals or warnings; and. in connection with an oil sensitive signal, amini- 10 mum of parts combined with extremely simple adjustment meansreadily accessible to and un- 15 device sensitive to hydraulic pressure;

Figure 2 is a wiring diagram; and Figure 3 is a section as on line 3-3of Figure 2.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, themechanical terminal Ill is 20 adapted to be connected with the highpressure portion 01' a lubricating system for theengine. The cup [2 ismounted on the terminal ill by riveting as at l4. The cover it is in theform of an inverted cup, but is much shallower than the cup I2, so thatits conical portion lies close to the diaphragm is and prevents injuryto the diaphragm by high oil pressure. The two cups are united by anannular bead 20 formed as an integral part of the rim of the cup l2,with a 30 washer 22 between the diaphragm and the lower cup. Crimpinghome this bead in a press of suitable power gives a satisfactory anddurable oil tight joint. I have illustrated the edge of the diaphragm Italso turned over the edge of the 35 upper cup I8, as at 23. The cover itincludes the cylindrical neck 24 housing the spring 28 and the combinedmechanical thrust termin and electrical grounding terminal 28.

The terminal 28 is in the form of an upwardly 40 opening cup receivingthe lower end of the spring 26, and its upper edge is flared at 30 toprovide a flange for making contact with the electrical terminal 32. Thesupport for the electrical terminal comprises the usual insulators 34and 36 45 clamped between the flange 38 and the nut 40. The cap 42 isthreadedinside the neck 24 as at '44, and held in adjusted positionagainst rotation by a resilient finger 48 riveted to the neck at 48 andengaging knurled teeth 50 on the cap.

50 The lower terminal 52 is supported similarly to the upper terminal32, except that it is held against rotation about its horizontal axis.The flange 54 bears against the usual necked insulator 68, but the flatinsulator 58 has its central 55 opening in the shape oi a circle with asector cut away. and flts the stem it, which is similarly mutilated. Theupper edge 01 the insulator .58 also has a sector cut away toieave aflat at 62 that abuts under the flange 20. The nut 64 clamps'theinsulators in place and the nut 66' 5 clamps the lead-in wire 08 andalso functions asv a lock nut. The inner end of the contact 52 is formedinto an upwardly directed point 53 to make electric contact with abutton 55 mounted on the diaphragm. i

Referring now to Figure 2, I have indicated the usual generator 10electrically grounded at 12 and having the usual cut-out switch 14 fordisconnecting the armature winding from the wiring carrying the batterypotential when the ignition switch is turned on. until the generator isrunning and has built up suflicient voltage so that the battery will notdischarge through the generator.

I have indicated a wire it running to the ignition switch, or otherwiring energized by turning on the ignition switch; and the electricalterminal 18, disconnected from the wire 16 except when the generator isrunning and the cutout switch I4 closes. From the terminal 18 I runwiring in series through atell-tale light 80, and'the lower contact I2ot the device of Figure 1. In the diagramv illustrated the light 80 isbetween the device and the generator, and the device itself iselectrically grounded by the mechanical terminal Ill.

It will be obvious that the same generator terminal 18 may be connectedto more than one instrumentality for detecting an abnormal condition. Ihave indicated another wire 82 connected to a second tell-tale light 84,and wires 88 and 48 connecting the tell-tale light to ground through asecond instrumentality 90 which may be a gasoline gauge arranged toconnect the wires 48 and II when the gasoline tank is almost empty. athermostat for connecting said wires when the temperature of the coolingwater becomes excessive, or any other detecting means designed torespond to an abnormal condition calling for attention by the operator.

The upper terminal 3 2 of the pressure sensitive device is similarlyutilized, being connected in series with a third tell-tale light 92.This is a relatively very dim green light, which will light up when theengine is started, and burn continuously as long as the generatordelivers voltage. Thus its iailure to light when the engine is startedwarns the operator not only that the generator is not functioning andthe ignition is being supplied by the battery, but that his regular oilpressure gauge is his only reliance to keep track of oilingconditionsuntil the generator is fixed.

In Figure 3 I have indicated the usual generator construction involvingthe grounded body 9|, the grounded armature brush 9G, and the brush 98for delivering power through the cut out switch 14 to the battery wire16. The wire I02, from which all the tell-tale lights 80, 84, and 92 arefed, is connected to the binding post 18 which is directly connectedthrough the wire IM to the cation, readily adapt the same for use under.

various conditions of. service.

' I claim:

1. In a pressure detector; a housing comprising two opposed one-piecesheet metal cups united into an integral unit by bending the edge 0! onecup around the edge of the other'cup; a diaphragm and an annular sealingwasher clamped between the edges of said cups; the cup on the lowpressure side of the diaphragm being relatively shallow and having wallportions lying close to the undistorted position of said diaphragm, toengage the diaphragm after a predetermined displacement thereof andprotect it from further distortion; the cup on the low pressure sidehaving a central neck; contact making and breaking means actuated by thediaphragm;

' terminaL-and an insulated terminal extending laterally into said neckfrom one side to overlie.

and adjustable resilient means housed in said neck and opposing theyielding of said diaphragm in response to pressure; said resilientmeanscomprising a cap threaded into the end of said neck,

a helical spring carried by said cap, and a mechanical terminal carriedon the inner end of said spring and bearing against said diaphragm; andan insulated electric terminal extending laterally from one side intothe cup on the high pressure side of the diaphragm tounderlie saidcontact making and breaking means.'

2. In. a pressure detector; a housing comprising two. opposedone-piecesheet metal cups=united into an integral unit by bending theedge 01 one cup around the edge of the other cup; a diaphragm and anannular sealing washer clamped between the edges of said cups; the cupon the low pressure side of the diaphragm being relatively shallow andhaving wall portions lying close to the undistorted position of saiddiaphragm, to engage the diaphragm after a predetermined displacementthereof and protect it from further distortion; the cup on the lowpressure side having a central neck; contact making and breaking meansactuated by the diaphragm and housed in said neck; and adjustableresilient means housed in said neck and opposing the yielding or saiddiaphragm in response to pressure; said resilient means comprising a capthreaded into the end of said neck, a helical spring carried byv saidcap, and a cup-shaped terminal carried on the inner end of said springand bearing against said diaphragm; said contact means comprising aflared flange on the upper edge 01 said 3. In a pressure detector; ahousing comprising two opposed one-piece sheet metal cups united into anintegral unit by bending the edge or onecup around the edge 01 the othercup; a diaphragm clamped between the edges of said cups; the cup on thelow pressure side of the diaphragm being relatively shallow and havingwall portions lying close to the undistorted position of said diaphragm,to engage the diaphragm after a predetermined displacement thereof andprotect it from further distortion; the cup on the low pressure sidehaving a central neck; adjustable resillent means housed in said neckand opposing the yielding of said diaphragm in response to pressure;said resilient means comprising a cap threaded into the end of saidneck, a helical spring carried by said cap, and a terminal carried onthe inner end of said spring and bearing against said diaphragm.

4. In a pressure detector; a housing comprising two opposed one-piecesheet metal cups united into an integral unit by bending the edge of onecup around the edge of the other cup; a, diaphragm between said cups;the cup on the low pressureside of the diaphragm being relativelyshallow and having wall portions lying close to the undistorted position01 said diaphragm, to engage the diaphragm alter a predetermineddisplacement thereof and protect it from further distortion; the cup onthe low pressure side hav-' ing a central neck; and adjustable resilientmeans housed in said neck and opposing the,

yielding of said diaphragm in response to pressure; said resilient meanscomprising a cap threaded into the end 01 said neck, a helical the cupon the low pressure side of the dia-' phragm being relatively shallowand having wall portions lying close to the undistorted position of saiddiaphragm, to engage the diaphragm after a predetermined displacementthereof and protect it from further distortion; the cup on the lowpressure side having a central neck; adjustable resilient means housedin said' neck and opposing the yielding of said diaphragm in response topressure; said resilient means comprising an abutment having threadedengagement with the end of said neck, and a helical spring pressedtoward said diaphragm by said abutment; and an insulated electricterminal extending laterally from one side into the cup on the highpressure side of the diaphragm to underlie said contact making andbreaking means. i

6. In a pressure detector: 9. housing comprising opposed one piece sheetmetal cups united into an integral unit by bending the edge or one cuparound the edge of the other cup; a diaphragm clamped between the edgesof said cups; the cup on the low pressure side of the diaphragm beingrelatively shallow and having wall portions lying close to theundistorted position 01' said diaphragm, to engage the diaphragm alter apredetermined displacement thereof and protect, it from furtherdistortion; the cup on the low pressure side having a central neck;adjustable resilient means housed in said neck. and opposing theyielding ot said diaphragm in response to pressure; said resilient meanscomprising an abutment having threaded engagement with the end of saidneck, and a helical spring pressed toward said diaphragm by saidabutment; ,and an insulated electric terminal on the high pressure sideof the diaphragm to underlie said contact making and breaking means.

7. In a'pressure detector: a housing comprising opposed one piecezsheetmetal cups united into an integral unit by bending the edge of one cuparound the edge of the other cup; a diaphragm clamped between the edgesof said cups; the cup on the low pressure side oi the diaphragm beingrelatively shallow and wall portions lying-close to the position of saiddiaphragm, to engage the diaphragm after a prohigh pressure side of thediaphragm to underlie 1o 6 said contact making and breaking means.

M Rome 1:.

